National Action Month for Gender Equality and Prevention and Response to Gender-Based Violence 2024

On November 15, in Hanoi, the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs, in coordination with the Ministry of Public Security and UN Women, organized a launching ceremony for the National Action Month for Gender Equality and Prevention and Response to Gender-Based Violence in 2024, with the theme "Ensuring social security, increasing power and opportunities for women and girls, towards equality and eliminating violence".

Attending the event were Minister of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs Dao Ngoc Dung, Deputy Minister of Public Security - Lieutenant General Le Van Tuyen; Ms. Pauline Tamesis - Resident Coordinator of the United Nations in Vietnam, along with representatives of international organizations, businesses and more than 800 delegates from the People's Public Security force.

Delegates launched the National Action Month for Gender Equality and Prevention and Response to Gender-Based Violence in 2024.

Speaking at the ceremony, Minister of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs Dao Ngoc Dung said that social security issues, measures to promote equality, care for the needs and legitimate interests of women and children, and move towards real gender equality still need to be prioritized in the coming time. This year's Action Month focuses on maintaining a stable, fair, democratic society, ensuring social security, security and safety for people, especially women and girls.

Deputy Minister of Public Security Le Van Tuyen said that the Ministry of Public Security always pays attention to and directs the police forces at all levels to proactively coordinate with relevant units, ministries, agencies and organizations to promptly detect, intervene and handle cases of gender violence, illegal marriage brokerage and protect victims, prevent crimes of child abuse and human trafficking.

People's Public Security forces performed martial arts at the launching ceremony.

In recent years, gender equality work in Vietnam has achieved many encouraging results: the proportion of women participating in Party committees at all levels has increased; key female leaders account for 59% in ministries, ministerial-level agencies and 74.6% in provincial-level local governments. The 15th National Assembly recorded a female representative rate of 30.26%, higher than the world average. The system of support services for victims of gender-based violence has been expanded, along with many achievements in narrowing the gender gap at all levels of education and improving the status of women in the economy .

According to the Global Gender Gap Report 2024 published by the World Economic Forum, Vietnam's gender equality index in 2024 ranked 72nd out of 146 countries, up 11 places compared to 2022. On April 9, 2024, the United Nations Economic and Social Council elected Vietnam to the UN Women Executive Council for the 2025-2027 term, affirming Vietnam's position and prestige in the international arena.

However, gender equality in Vietnam still faces many challenges, such as social prejudice, gender disparity at birth, domestic violence and unfair housework burden for women. To thoroughly resolve these challenges, it requires the joint efforts of the entire political system and community, along with policies and laws that go hand in hand with effective implementation.

Ms. Pauline Tamesis said that the United Nations is supporting the capacity building of the Vietnamese police force in handling cases effectively, ensuring that the investigation process is child-friendly, victim-friendly, gender-sensitive and gender-responsive. "Through our cooperation activities, we hope that the police force will be fully equipped and trained to provide women and children with the confidence and safety to report and seek assistance from the authorities," she said.

The Month of Action for Gender Equality and Prevention of Gender-Based Violence will last from November 15 to December 15, with a series of events and activities spreading across the country. Immediately after the launching ceremony, there will be sideline activities such as parades, martial arts performances by the People's Public Security force, and thousands of response events in localities.

Source: https://thoidai.com.vn/thang-hanh-dong-vi-binh-dang-gioi-va-phong-ngua-ung-pho-voi-bao-luc-tren-co-so-gioi-cap-quoc-gia-nam-2024-207297.html